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Abstract:

An apparatus for capturing and storing data from the maintenance or
repair of energy conversion installations is improved in respect of
long-term and secure storage and evaluation of the documentation data
independently of the operator of the energy conversion installation. At
least one energy conversion installation is provided with a maintenance
database for storing documentation data from maintenance or repair. At
least one mobile user appliance is provided for inputting documentation
data into the maintenance database by a user performing the maintenance
work. The mobile user appliance has an appliance database used to store
individual identification data. The documentation data from maintenance
or repair is capable of being stored together with the identification
data from the appliance database of the mobile user appliance in the
maintenance database of the energy conversion installation, and being
remotely retrievable for evaluating on an external evaluation station and
transmitting to the evaluation station.

Claims:

1. An apparatus for capturing and storing data from the maintenance or
repair of energy conversion installations, particularly wind energy
installations (6), characterized in that at least one energy conversion
installation (6) is provided with a maintenance database (4) for storing
documentation data from maintenance or repair by virtue of at least one
mobile user appliance (1) being provided for the purpose of the input of
documentation data from the maintenance database (4) by a user performing
the maintenance work, which mobile user appliance includes an appliance
database (9) that can be used to store individual identification data, in
that the documentation data from maintenance or repair can be stored
together with the identification data from the appliance database (9) of
the mobile user appliance (1) in the maintenance database (4) of the
energy conversion installation (6) and can be remotely retrieved for the
purpose of evaluation on an external evaluation station (5), and it can
be teletransmitted to the evaluation station (5).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile
user appliance (1) is set up for reading out operating data from a
controller device (2) for controlling and adjusting the energy conversion
installations (6), for the purpose of working up the operating data and
for storing said worked up operating data as a component of the
documentation data in the maintenance database (4) of the energy
conversion installation (6).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile
user appliances (1) are set up for the manual input of maintenance or
repair data by the user and for storing the data, which have been input
in this manner, as a component of documentation data in the maintenance
database (4) of the energy conversion installations (6).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
identification data comprise appliance data for identifying the mobile
user appliance (1), particularly the name of the appliance, class of the
appliance, manufacturer, serial number and IP address.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
identification data comprise user data of the user of the mobile user
appliance (1), preferably name, address, company association,
authentication data, particularly user name password, PIN codes, validity
period of an individual authentication and access level.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
identification data comprise the data of the company tasked with
performing the maintenance or repair work, preferably the company name,
address, authentication data and validity period of an authentication of
the company.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
identification data comprise access specification data, particularly
access codes.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
identification data are encrypted before they are stored and/or
transmitted.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the
appliance database comprises a first data group that is stored in a first
storage means, which is disposed in the mobile user appliance (1), in
that the appliance database comprises a second data group that is stored
in a second storage means, which is detachably connected to the mobile
user appliance (1), wherein the named first data group comprises the
appliance data for identifying the mobile user appliance (1) and the
second data group comprises the user data of the user.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the second
storage means that is connected to the mobile user appliance (1) is
configured as a USB stick, a chip card or a common memory card.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that notebooks
with internet connection, netbooks, webpads or smartphones are used as
mobile user appliances (1) that are equipped with corresponding software
for operating, monitoring and creating the aforementioned documentation
data, for the storage of the identification data, as well as for the
transmission of the documentation data and identification data to a
maintenance database (4) of an energy conversion installation (6).

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy
conversion installation (6) includes a communication interface (3) for
the standardized data exchange between the mobile user appliance (1) and
the maintenance database (4) and for the teletransmission of data from
the maintenance database (4) to an external evaluation station (5).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the
external evaluation station (5) is set up for retrieving the
documentation data of a plurality of energy conversion installations (6)
from the maintenance databases (4).

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the
communication interface (3) includes a software component for the
communication on the software application level, which supports an
industry standard or a standard for the data management of maintenance
work in energy conversion installations (6).

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the
maintenance database (4) is able to store, aside from number and text
material, other media formats as well, particularly audio material, film
material and photos, that can be retrieved via authorized evaluation
stations (5), for example by the operator or manufacturer of the energy
conversion installation (6) or a service company tasked with the
maintenance or repair work.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the files
from the maintenance database (4) can be transmitted to a mobile user
appliance (1) for storage in the appliance database (9) for verification
purposes that the maintenance or repair work was indeed performed.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that
maintenance reports and/or status analyses of the related energy
conversion installation (6) can be created in the evaluation station (5)
based on the transmitted documentation data.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the
evaluation station (5) is able to transmit the maintenance reports and/or
status analyses (5) for storage in the maintenance database (4) to the
related energy conversion installation (6).

Description:

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for capturing and storing
data related to the maintenance or repair of energy conversion
facilities, particularly wind energy facilities.

[0002] Nowadays, distributed energy conversion facilities are incorporated
in increasingly dynamic monitoring and operating environments that
comprise, on the one hand, the service organizations tasked with
performing the maintenance and repair work and, on the other hand, the
operator organizations. Until recently, such facilities were equipped
with stationary operating terminals; however, the current trend favors
the use of mobile, customized devices, such as notebooks, netbooks,
webpads or even smartphones to monitor the facilities and control tasks.

[0003] DE 10 2008 046 156 A1 teaches the use of such a device in
connection with the diagnostic monitoring of wind energy facilities. The
devices therein are used for monitoring, controlling and receiving error
codes in the event of a service disruption.

[0004] Any maintenance and repair work that is performed by a service
organization must be documented, particularly with regard to any use of
replacement parts, resources and other materials. Labor that is performed
is also documented, wherein it is recorded, in particular, what type of
work was done and on what facility. Special events or observations by the
service personnel are recorded as well. Finally, the aforementioned data
are used to create service reports that help the service company capture
maintenance data for their own technical company databases, on the one
hand, we well as for accounting systems in relation to the services
supplied to the operator, on the other hand. The operators and, if need
be, the owners of the energy conversion facilities are provided with
service reports.

[0005] Over time, however, service organizations may change. This is
usually associated with changes in terms of structure, format and content
of the service reports that represent the maintenance data. Changes in
the service reporting are also possible, when an operator or owner of a
given facility changes, and the new operator or owner sets different
requirements. Consistent capturing of maintenance data for a certain
local energy conversion facility over long periods of time that is
independent of the currently active service company is therefore not
available, which poses a problem for the operators and stakeholders of
such facilities. In particular, when a service company changes,
generally, only the given predecessor company has knowledge of the work
that has been completed to date, or such data is only available through
the operator of the facility, provided that such data are complete at
all. The new service organization must then work up old maintenance data
and import such data into their own data inventories to generate an
overview of past work as well as a record of replacement parts that have
been incorporated, seeking to arrive at a record that is as complete as
possible and does not leave gaps. The related time and financial
commitments are considerable, which is why many service organizations
avoid these steps. However, if old data are not taken over at all, or
only for a certain historical time period, it is no longer possible at
all, or only with great difficulty, to ensure a gapless follow-up record
accompanying any maintenance work that was done or regarding the
materials that were installed or consumed after the start-up of the
facility.

[0006] The situation is similar when there is an operator change. In this
instance as well, maintenance data must be procured from the previous
operator or the related service company that is involved and must then be
integrated in the data infrastructure of the new operator. These efforts
are associated with great time and financial commitments and, therefore,
often neglected.

[0007] Consequently, it is the object of the present invention to provide
a system for capturing and storing data related to the maintenance or
repair of energy conversion facilities that will allow for providing
long-term, gapless and complete data for use by service companies,
operators, owners and other stakeholders.

[0008] The invention achieves this object by providing that at least one
energy conversion facility has a maintenance database for storing
documentation data from a maintenance or repair task, that at least one
mobile user appliance is provided for the input of documentation data
into a maintenance database by a user who performs the maintenance task,
and that said mobile user appliance includes an appliance database that
can be used for saving individual identification data, that the
documentation data from a maintenance or repair task can be stored,
together with the identification data from the appliance database of the
mobile user appliance, in the maintenance database of the energy
conversion facility, and that said data are remotely retrievable by an
external evaluation station for and can be evaluated by the same, and
that the data can be remotely transmitted to the evaluation station.

[0009] Due to the decentralized storage of the documentation data in the
maintenance database of the energy conversion facility, said data remain
available for all stakeholders, even after a change of the service
company, operator, owner or other stakeholders of the energy conversion
facility. Mobile user appliances simplify the input of documentation data
into the maintenance database by the user, because the user always
operates, independently of the presently serviced energy conversion
facility, his or her own, familiar mobile user appliance or a similar
appliance and does not need to learn how to operate varying local input
devices that may be in use at the locale of the respective energy
conversion facility. This helps to avoid errors and improves security.
With the customized identification data that are stored in the appliance
database, it is ensured that only eligible users are able to input
documentation data and that it is transparent at a later time who
performed the maintenance work and who entered the documentation data
into the maintenance database, because the documentation data from a
maintenance or repair task are stored in the maintenance database
together with the identification data from the appliance database of the
mobile user appliance.

[0010] Due to the capacity for remote retrieval of the documentation data
that are stored in the maintenance database by an external evaluation
unit, it is possible to make the maintenance data available to all
involved stakeholders without the need for a personal presence at the
energy conversion facility. For example, the involved service company can
retrieve data and use the same as a basis for creating a standardized
service report that can be forwarded to the other stakeholders. However,
the service organization is also able to access historical data that were
stored previously by former service organizations.

[0011] A preferred embodied example of the invention provides that the
mobile user appliances are set up for reading operating data from a
control device for controlling and regulating the energy conversion
facility, working up operating data and storing worked up operating data
as a component of the documentation data as set up in the maintenance
database of the energy conversion facility. This way, the user receives
the operating data of the energy conversion facility on his or her
personal mobile user appliance and is able to save said data in the
maintenance database for documentation purposes, if necessary,
particularly after a routinely implemented work-up step. Such operating
data can comprise, in particular, the status of the facility at the time
that the maintenance measure was performed, such as operating
disturbances, wear and tear, production hours and total production of the
energy conversion facility.

[0012] Due to the fact that the mobile user appliances are set up for
receiving the manual input of maintenance or repair data by the user and
for storing data entered in this manner as a component of the
documentation data in the maintenance database of the energy conversion
system, the user has the option of entering details as to the course of
the maintenance work and any related observations in the mobile user
appliance first, subsequently storing the information in the maintenance
database. In particular, such data can comprise the date, point in time,
type, purpose, course and the duration of maintenance or repair work, as
well as any related consumption of materials and resources as well as
replacement parts that are installed in the context of the maintenance or
repair measure.

[0013] Preferably, the identification data that are stored in the
appliance database of the mobile user appliance comprise also appliance
data for identifying the mobile user appliance itself, such as
particularly the appliance name, appliance class, manufacturer, serial
number and IP address. This provides a vehicle for keeping track of as to
what mobile user appliance was used for what maintenance task. With
personal mobile user appliances, it is also possible to draw conclusions
as to the identity of the user who was tasked with the maintenance work.

[0014] However, it is possible to improve the invention in this specified
aspect even further by providing that the identification data comprise
the user data of the user and of the mobile user appliance, preferably
name, address, company affiliation, authentication data, particularly
user name, password, PIN codes, validity period of a customized
authentication, as well as the access level. This way it is clearly
recorded who performed a given maintenance task and what level of
authorization such a person was holding at the time when the work was
completed.

[0015] Supplementing the previously mentioned steps, it is proposed that
the identification data further comprise company data of the organization
tasked with performing the maintenance and repair work, preferably the
company name, address, authentication data and validity period of such an
authentication held by the company.

[0016] If legitimization is required to gain access to the energy
conversion facility or the control device or database, particularly the
maintenance database, it is proposed that the identification data also
comprise access specification data, particularly, access codes. The
related advantage lies in the fact that service personnel does not need
to keep the access codes available and enter said codes personally.

[0017] The measure that was referred to last can be further improved by
providing that the identification data can be stored and/or transmitted
as encrypted data. This way, it is ensured that the identification data
cannot be easily extracted by persons from outside of the company or
persons without proper authorization.

[0018] The invention can be improved still further by providing that the
appliance database comprise a first data group that is stored in a first
storage means, which is disposed in the mobile user appliance, that the
appliance database comprise a second data group that is saved in a second
storage means, which is detachably connected to the mobile user
appliance, and wherein the first data group that was referred to
comprises the appliance data for identifying the mobile user appliance,
and the second data group comprises the user data for the user. The
second storage means therein, which is connected to the appliance, is
preferably configured as a USB stick, chip card or a commonly used memory
card.

[0019] Advantageously, with this measure, the appliance-related part of
the appliance database that is used by several individuals remains inside
the appliance, while the personal part of the mobile data carrier can
always be taken along by the respective service technician, even when
said technician is not using the appliance at a given time. To use the
mobile user appliance, the service technician inserts his or her personal
mobile data carrier (USB stick, etc.) into the appliance, and the
appliance software then combines the personal data and the appliance
data, thereby facilitating the connection to the maintenance database.
After completing the work with the mobile appliance, the service
technician removes his or her mobile data carrier from the appliance
handing the mobile appliance off to the next user or depositing the same
to allow other persons to use it, while the technician takes the mobile
data carrier along which him or her. This way, it is possible for several
service technicians to use the same mobile user appliance (in
succession). Furthermore, it is even possible to install the appliance in
a stationary manner, such that it is no longer mobile, while still
capturing each active service technician individually.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention provides that the mobile user
appliances are notebooks with internet connection, netbooks, webpads or
smartphones that are loaded with corresponding software for operating,
monitoring and creating the aforementioned documentation data, saving the
identification data, as well as transmitting documentation data and
identification data to a maintenance database of an energy conversion
facility. The mentioned appliances can be procured easily and at low
cost; with a suitable software product, they can be easily and quickly
set up to carry out the specific tasks as provided by the present
invention.

[0021] A further embodiment of the invention provides for the energy
conversion facility to include a communication interface for standardized
data exchanges between the mobile user appliances and the maintenance
database, as well as for the remote transmission of data from the
maintenance database to an external evaluation station. Advantageously, a
single communication interface serves for the data exchanges with the
mobile user appliances when performing maintenance or repair work on
site, on the one hand, as well as for the remote transmission of data for
the purpose of evaluating data at an external evaluation station, on the
other hand.

[0022] In this context, it is particularly beneficial for the external
evaluation station to be set up for retrieving documentation data from
the maintenance databases of a plurality of energy conversion facilities.
For example, in this case, it is possible to combine the administration
of all energy conversion facilities of an energy park, particularly a
wind energy park, into a single centralized evaluation station.

[0023] An improvement of the invention advantageously provides for the
communication interface to include a software component for the
communication on the software application level, supporting an industry
standard or a standard for the data management with regard to maintenance
work in energy conversion facilities. The uniform access to the
maintenance database, which could be technologically based on web
services, supports the interchangeable quality of the maintenance
database and mobile user appliances accessing the same.

[0024] An improvement of the present invention provides that, aside from
numbered and text materials, the maintenance database is also able to
save other media formats, particularly audio material, film material and
photos, which are retrievable by correspondingly authorized evaluation
stations, for example by the operator or manufacturer of the energy
conversion facility or by a service company that has been tasked with
performing maintenance and repair work. Using the aforementioned
multimedia vehicles, it is possible to document operational states and
document, in particular, operational disturbances inside the energy
conversion facility, particularly when handled by the service technician
during the completion of maintenance or repair work. For example, it is
possible to take photos of damaged parts, document operational deviations
or the operation within parameters, or to record operating noises, for
example of a defective bearing, in an audio file format and store such
information in the maintenance database. It is understood that such media
files can also be generated and saved automatically, in the absence of a
service technician, provided the locations that are to be monitored are
equipped with microphones and/or digital cameras.

[0025] A further improvement of the invention provides that files can be
transmitted from the maintenance database to a mobile user appliance for
storage inside an appliance database in order to verify that maintenance
or repair work was in fact performed. To this end, it is possible to
program a microprocessor, which administers the maintenance database, in
such a way that said processor checks for the presence of certain
maintenance data and the content thereof, generating a corresponding
code, once the presence of the related envisioned data has been
confirmed, that is transmitted to the mobile user appliance where the
code is stored inside the appliance database as verification of the
respective maintenance details.

[0026] An improvement of the invention provides that evaluation reports
and/or status analyses of the respective energy conversion facility can
be created in the evaluation station based on the transmitted
documentation data. This helps with simplifying the readability and
interpretation of documentation data for the intended addressee.

[0027] If maintenance reports and/or status analyses can be transmitted to
the respective energy conversion facility by the evaluation station for
storage inside the maintenance database, all involved stakeholders are
able to access such data, even after a long period of time has passed.

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated below
based on the drawing. The single drawing shows in detail:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a representation of the apparatus
according to the invention.

[0030] The apparatus as depicted in FIG. 1 serves for capturing and
storing data related to maintenance or repair tasks at energy conversion
facilities, presently wind energy facilities. In FIG. 1, the wind energy
facility 6 is represented by a large rectangle. Aside from the parts of
the facility that are can be neglected in this context as they are
presently of minor importance, for example rotor, transmission and
generator, the depicted wind energy facility 6 has a decentralized
maintenance database 4 for storing documentation data from a maintenance
or repair task. In particular, a mobile user appliance 1 is provided for
saving the data, and said appliance is operated by the service
technician. The service technician is able to manually enter maintenance
data by means of the mobile user appliance 1, particularly date, point in
time, type, purpose, course and duration of the maintenance work, data
regarding the consumption of materials and resources, as well as
installed replacement parts, and the like. Afterwards, these data can be
stored as a component of the documentation data inside the maintenance
database 4 of the wind energy facility 6. To this end, the wind energy
facility 6 features a communication interface that is connected to the
local database 4, on the one hand, and that can be connected to the
mobile user appliance 1, on the other hand. For reasons of comfort and
easy use, the connection between the mobile user appliance 1 and the
communication interface 3 is a wireless connection, particularly a W-LAN
or Bluetooth connection.

[0031] However, the mobile user appliance 1 can also receive operational
data from a control device 2 that is provided for controlling and
regulating the wind energy facility 6, if necessary, engage in the
work-up of such data and save the same via the communication interface 3
in the maintenance database 4 of the wind energy facility 6. Such data
from the control device 2 can relate, particularly, to the given status
of the wind energy facility 6 at the time of the maintenance event, such
as data regarding operational disturbances or wear and tear of the wind
energy facility 6 that have occurred in the past and were filed in an
error memory, as well as a data log regarding production hours and the
associated energy produced during that time, as well as the total
production. All of these operational data can be stored, together with
the maintenance data, as documentation data in the maintenance data base
4 of the wind energy facility 6 and retrieved, when needed.

[0032] Moreover, each mobile user appliance 1 includes an appliance
database 9 where individual identification data are stored. These
identification data include, in particular, device data for identifying
the respective mobile user appliance 1, user data regarding the user of
the mobile user appliance 1, particularly name, address, company
association, authentication data and validity period of an individual
authentication of the user, also company data regarding the organization
that is entrusted with the maintenance work, particularly company name,
address, authentication data and validity period of an authentication of
the company. In addition, the identification data can comprise, in
particular, access codes for the wind energy facility 6, and/or the
control device 2, the communication interface 3 and the maintenance
database 4 thereof. The identification data are encrypted before being
stored in the appliance data base 9, and they are transmitted as
encrypted data to the communication interface. Documentation data or
other data can only be exchanged with the maintenance data base 4 or the
control device 2 or another facility of the wind energy facility 6 after
the mobile user appliance 1 and/or the user thereof has been identified
and the access authorization is available.

[0033] Expedient mobile user appliances 1 are, in particular, notebooks
with internet connection, netbooks, webpads or smartphones. With suitable
software, such devices can be easily set up to meet the special
requirements of the present invention. Aside from being programmable,
such devices also offer data storages of sufficient sizes for use as an
appliance database 9. Typically, they are set up with facilities allowing
to establish a wireless connection via Bluetooth, W-LAN, cellular
telephone and UMTS, or they can be set up accordingly. The connection via
the cellular telephone network or UMTS is especially pertinent when the
mobile user appliance is outside of range of the Bluetooth or W-LAN
network, meaning not in the immediate vicinity of the wind energy
facility 6. From a large distance, the connection between the mobile user
appliance 1 and the wind energy facility 6 can be established via the
communication interface 3 thereof, wherein the communication interface 3
is also connected to the cellular telephone network, UMTS or connected to
the internet 7 in another way, particularly via a landline telephone
connection.

[0034] When the wind energy facility 6 is connected via the internet 7,
not only the use of a mobile user appliance 1 but also of any evaluation
station 5 that is connected to the internet is possible in order to
establish the contact with the communication interface 3 of the wind
energy facility 6, from anywhere in the world. This way, it is possible
to evaluate the documentation data in the maintenance databases 4 of a
plurality of wind energy facility 6 by means of a single centralized
evaluation station 5. However, other evaluation stations are also able to
access the maintenance databases 4 of the wind energy facilities 6,
provided they have the corresponding authorizations. For example, the
service company, operator, manufacturer or owner of the wind energy
facility can each set up one or a plurality of evaluation stations 5,
respectively, and retrieve and evaluate the data of the wind energy
facilities 6, as well as store worked up data in the respective local
maintenance data bases 4 of the wind energy facilities 6, if necessary.
These data can also comprise media formats, such as audio material, film
material and photos. The maintenance reports or status analyses that are
generated by the service company on the basis of the documentation data
regarding the individual wind energy facilities 6 can also be stored in
the respective, associated local maintenance database 4.

[0035] The advantage of the apparatus according to the invention in
contrast to the prior art lies in the fact that maintenance data can be
made available uniformly, continually and over the long periods of time
to all stakeholders, such as operators or service companies, without
requiring any added technical complexity; said data are permanently
available, even if the service company or the operator of the facility or
the mobile user appliances changes. Based on the appliance data from the
appliance databases 9 of the mobile user appliances 1, which are stored
in the maintenance databases 4 of the wind energy facility 6, it is also
possible to provide historical evaluations regarding organizations and
other stakeholders that conducted, for example, maintenance work on this
wind energy facility 6.